The Naismith Player of the Year Award is given annually to the best college basketball player at the end of each season. Named after Dr. James Naismith, the creator of basketball, the award is decided by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors.
On April 6, 2025, the Board of Selectors announced that Duke freshman Cooper Flagg won the award, defeating finalists Johni Broome (Auburn), Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida), and Braden Smith (Purdue).
When Is The Naismith Player of the Year Award Voted On and Announced?
The voting process for the Naismith Player of the Year will be based on player performance throughout the season. The national voting body, which includes top basketball coaches, administrators, and journalists, will cast one final vote to decide the award winner after narrowing the semifinalists to four.
As a result, the body’s votes will account for 95% of the final total, while the remaining 5% will come from fans. They can submit one vote per day via official platforms such as naismithfanvote.com.
The winner of the Naismith Player of the Year Award is announced at a ceremony held during Final Four weekend. The location of the award ceremony varies each year to match the host city of the Final Four.
This season, Indianapolis, the host city of the Final Four, will host the event. A ceremony will take place during the Naismith Awards Brunch on April 5 to honor the top players from the entire regular season and tournament. The brunch is the highlight of the college basketball postseason. It brings together the finalists, coaches, and basketball leaders to celebrate excellence both on and off the court.
READ MORE: Who Votes on the Naismith Player of the Year Award? How College Basketball’s Top Honor Is Decided
The Naismith Award organizers have announced their 10 semifinalists for men’s college basketball. They are Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas), Cameron Boozer (Duke), Jaden Bradley (Arizona), AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Zuby Ejiofor (St. John’s), Kingston Flemings (Houston), Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State), Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan), Braden Smith (Purdue), and Keaton Wagler (Illinois).
The four finalists will be announced on March 27 or on the final day of the Sweet Sixteen games. Currently, freshmen Boozer, Dybantsa, and Acuff, along with seniors Smith and Lendeborg, are among the top contenders for the Naismith Award.
No dates have been set for the final vote yet. However, given the timeline between the announcement of the finalists and the Naismith Award Brunch, it is likely that the final voting will take place between March 28 and April 4.
The award’s structure mostly stays the same, combining expert judging with fan participation. This mixed approach helps keep the award’s integrity and invites more people to join.
